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Oil Pressure gauge

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Old Oct 27, 2008 | 10:05 PM
  #1  
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Oil Pressure gauge

I just got my second IROC last week and the damn oil pressure gauges hardly works. If you snap the throttle it'll go to 30psi, otherwise it pretty much stays at 0psi. I really don't like running it with it doing that. I just did an oil change and ran it for 30mins listening for the slightest noise and didn't hear anything. Because of that i'm thinking its either the actual gauge or sender. Has anybody else had this problem, if so what was it on yours. I'm thinking about taking the dash apart and giving it 12V and a ground and seeing if the gauge pegs out. Any thoughts?
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Old Oct 27, 2008 | 11:02 PM
  #2  
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From: Erlanger, KY
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

I would check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. If your oil pressure is low with a mechanical gauge, that might lead you to worn bearings or a weak oil pump, but if the pressure is fine, then it could be a bad sending unit or gauge.
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Old Oct 27, 2008 | 11:08 PM
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Re: Oil Pressure gauge

I was thinking about that but if my oil pressure was actually that low i'm pretty sure i'd notice it a lil more, lol. I will try that tho this weekend. Thanks alot for your input.....any others?
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 01:48 AM
  #4  
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From: Erlanger, KY
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

Whats your gauge reading when the engine is cold? Does it stay at 0 psi at idle or does it go up and come back down as the engine warms up.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 07:28 AM
  #5  
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Re: Oil Pressure gauge

its about 20-30psi when its cold, and when it warms up i drop down to 0psi. I'm thinking it might be the sender. Maybe its getting a weak signal? I'll see about testing it this weekend. What you think it is?
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 02:18 PM
  #6  
jermdm's Avatar
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From: Erlanger, KY
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

Its possible that the sending unit is going bad. I would say that the gauge is fine. Test it with a mechanical gauge so you will know if its has good oil pressure or not. If it does the same as your dash gauge, I'm guesing worn bearings or weak oil pump.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 07:35 AM
  #7  
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From: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Car: 1991 Camaro Z/28 Convertible
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

I have this issue too.. 30psi on the gas, 1/2 that at cruise (see pic) and apparently 0 at idle.

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There's the correct amount of new oil in it and it seems to run fine but this is quite concerning

Reading through these posts it seems best to get the pressure checked at my friendly workshop and see what the results are?
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Old Nov 27, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #8  
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Re: Oil Pressure gauge

I checked on AllData and it says that at 400rpm these cars are only supposed to have 24psi of oil pressure. Thats seems pretty low to me. Does anybody know the normal psi at idle and at 4000rpm?
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Old Nov 27, 2008 | 02:49 PM
  #9  
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From: Beautiful Coastal New Jersey
Car: 1990 Firebird
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: Auburn posi 3.73
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

when i first bought my car a couple years ago the sender would freak out and cause the gauge to fluctuate wildly. just pick up a new sender with the correct socket the next time you do an oil change. they aren't that expensive. fwiw my car idles at 650 rpm and the factory gauge reads about 30 psi. i'm not sure if i trust it to be 100% accurate though.

Last edited by pound; Nov 27, 2008 at 02:52 PM.
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Old Nov 27, 2008 | 04:00 PM
  #10  
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Re: Oil Pressure gauge

Ya i'm going to have to. According to AllData again these cars have pretty low oil pressure. I'll look it up again monday
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Old Nov 30, 2008 | 12:11 AM
  #11  
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From: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Car: 1991 Camaro Z/28 Convertible
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Oil Pressure gauge

Just as an update, I drove the car 40 miles last night at around 70mph and the oil pressure was solid at a shade under 30psi all the way.

Now I'm more convinced than ever that this is a gauge issue. Next step - checking with a mechanical gauge.
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